Cab signal



Jan.

C. E. BLANKENSHIP Filed Feb. 17, 1928 3 1 53 IIIIIII- 11 CAB S I GNAL 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1929; I 1,700,019

c E. BLANKENSHIP v 0 CAB SIGNAL Filed Feb. 17, 1928 :s Sheets-Sheet 2II// I ATTOR N EY Jail. 22, 1929.

C. E. BLANKENSHIP GAB SIGNAL Filed Feb. 17, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED. STATES" CASPER E. BLANKEINSHIP, OF WILLIAMSON, WEST VIRGINIA.

CAB SIGNAL.

Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,120.

The general object ofthis invention is to provide means for applying thebrakes of a train, sounding an alarm and actuating a signal in the cabwhen the front wheels of a locomotive leave the rails, thereby stoppingthe train and notifying the engineer that the wheels have left therails.

Another object of the invention is toso form the major portion of thedevice that it can be placed on the pilot frame of the locomotive sothat the connection between said major portion and the axle of the pilotwheels I is comparatively short.

A still further object of the invention is to so arrange the parts thatthe alarm is sounded by the air escaping from the main air line.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that some ofthe air in the main air line is utilized to hold the device ininoperative position and to provide a hand operated valve for closingthe air line after it has been opened by the operation of the device.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout-the several views, and in which Figure 1is a view showing the invention installed on the front part of alocomotive.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view showing how the device is connectedwith parts of the locomotive.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the major part of the device.

Figure 4 is a plan View with parts in section.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of F igure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Figure 4, but showing the reliefvalve open and the piston retracted.

Figure 8 is a sectional View showing the parts in operative positionwith the air draining from the air line.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit to the cab signal.

Figure 10 is a view of the axle engaging member with the ring memberthereon.

Figure 11 is a section on line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view partly in section, showing the connection betweenthe cable and the rod carried by the ring member.

In these views, 1 indicates a cylinder which is mounted on a base 2placed on the pilot frame of a locomotive and 3 indicates a piston insaid cylinder, the rod 4 of which extends through a packing gland at thefront end of the cylinder. A slide valve 5 is arranged in a guideway 6formed in a Wall of the cylinder, said valve controlling the inlet port7 of the cylinder which is connected by a valve casing 8 with the airline 9 of the frame, said casing 8 containing a valve 10 provided with ahandlell so that the valve can be operated by hand to open or close theconnection between the cylinder and the air line. The stem 12 of thevalve 5 is connected, with the piston rod 4 by the arms 13 and 14 sothat the valve is caused to move with the piston. WVhen the valve 5 isin closed position, the piston 3 is also in a position covering the port7, butwhen the piston is moved for wa-rdly, the valve also movesforwardly and thus the air in the line 9 will pass into the rear part ofthe cylinder and will escape therefrom through the pipe 15 to which isattached a whistle 16 and thus the 'whistle will be operated by the airescaping from tne air line.

A switch block 17 is slidably mounted in the guideways 18 attached tothe cylinder and a rod 19 connects theblock with the arm a 14 so thatthe blockis reciprocated by the movement of the piston. A long contactstrip 20 is arranged in the guideways so that it will always be inengagement with the switch block and a short strip 21 is arranged on theopposite side of the guideways so that it will be engaged by the switchblock when the block. moves forwardly a certain distance, it beingunderstood that these parts are suitably insulated from the'other parts,A circuit A, including a battery B and a signal S, is connected with thetwo strips so that when the switch block moves forwardly and engages theshort strip 21, the circuit will be completed and the signal operated,the signal being arranged in the cab of the locomotive.

A cable 22 has one end connected with theouter end of the piston rod andsaid cable is wound around a drum 23 supported by the brackets 24 on thepilot frame and the other end of the cable is connected to an elongatedlink 25 which receives an elongated link 26 on the upper end of a rod 27which has its lower end connected with a two-part ring 27 which isseated for rotary movement in a groove in a two-part ring 28 whichencircles the axle of the pilot wheels of the locomotive. A double hookmember 29 is carried by the upper end of the rod 27 and a pair ofsprings 30 have their lower ends connected with the two hooks ofsaidmember and their upper ends connected to a part of the pilot frame. Apart of the cable may be connected with the drum, as shown at 3 Thesprings 30 tend to holdthe .rod in its upward position and the two links25 and 26 permit the rod 27 to move with the axle, due to irregularitiesin the track, without affecting the cable.

Abrancli pipe 82 connects the air line 9, be low the valve casing 8,with the forward end of the cylinder, so that some: of theair from saidline will-enter the cylinder and act to hold the piston in its rearwardposition covering the port 7, it being, of course, understood that thevalve 5 is also held in a position covering thepor't. A relief valve 33is also connected with the forward end of the cylinder, with its piston34 normally covering the ports 35 in the valve casing, due to the actionof the spring 86 in said casing, this spring being strong enoughtoprevent the air line pressure from moving the piston 3a rearwardly touncover the ports 35.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the parts are normally in aposition with the port 7 cl0sed,so that air cannot escapefrom the airline through the cylinder, but if the pilot wheels should leave therails; the cable. would be pulled downwardly by the lowering of thepilot wheel a de and thus the pull of the cable would pull the piston 3and the valve 5 forwardly, thus uncovering the port 7, so that the airin the air line would escape through tlie cylinder, the pipe 15 and thewhistle, thus applying the brakes of the train and sounding the alarm.At the same time, the circuit A would be closed by the switch block 17''Gon tactin'g with the strip 21 so that the signal in the cab would belighted and thus notify the engineer that the wlieelshave left thetrack. Thus it will be seen that the train will be stopped by theapplication of the brakes and the whistle sounded and the signal in thecab lighted.

By providing the hand operated valve IO, the air line can be closed tobuild up the air therein to remove the brakes after the device hasoperated to drain the line and apply the brakes.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that I may make changes in the construtcion andin the combination and arrangementof the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

. l/Vhat I claim is 1. In combination with a train, a signal in the cabof the locomotive thereof, a. second signal and means connected with theaxles of the pilotcwlreels of the locomotive for aetuating the cabsignal and for causing the air in the air line of the train to drainthrough the second signalai id sound the same when the pilot wheelsleave the track.

'2. In combination with a: train, a cylinder carried by the pilot of thelocomotive thereof, said cylinder having a port therein, means forconnecting the port with the air line of the train',a piston in thecylinder, a valve for controlling the' port, means for connecting thevalve with the piston rod, said valve and piston normally covering theport, a whistle connected with the cylinder and means connecting thepiston rod with the axle of the pilot wheels of the locomotive so thatwhen the wheels leave the track, the piston and valve will moveforwardly to permit the air in the air line to pass through the whistleto apply the brakes and operate the Whistle.

3. In combination with a train, a cylinder carried by the pilot ofthelocomotivethereof, said cylinder having a port therein, means forconnecting the port with the air line of the train, a. piston in thecylinder, a valve for controlling the port, means for connecting thevalve with the piston rod, said valve and piston normally covering theport, a Whistle connected with the cylinder, means connecting the pistonrod with the axle of the pilot wheels of the locomotive so that when thewheels-leave the track, the piston and valve will move forwardlytop'erlnit the air inthe airline to pass through the whistle to applythe brakes and operate the whistle, a signal in the cab, a circuit forthe same and means operated by the forward movement of the piston rodfor closing the circuit.

4. In combination with a train, a cylinder on the pilot framethereof,sa'id cylinder having a port therein, means for connecting theport with the air line of the" train, a valve for cont-rolling the port,a piston in the cylinder normally covering the-port, a piston rodconnected with the piston and passing" through the forward end of thecylinder, a stem connected with the valve, means for connecting the stemwith the piston rod, a switch member connected with the piston rod, acircuit including signal in the cab, terminals for the circuit bridgedby theswitch' member when the piston rod moves forwardly, a cableconnected with the piston rod, a drum rotatably supported 011 the pilotframe and around which the cable is wound, a rod,means for looselyconnecting the upper end of the rod with the cable, means for connectingthe rod with a part of the axle of the pilot wheels, a whistle connectedwith the rear end of the cylinder, the cable moving the piston, thevalve and the switch member forwardly when the pilot wheels leave thetrack to drain the air line and apply the brakes and sound the whistleby the air from the train line and enclosing the circuit of the signalin the cab.

5. In combination with a train, a cylinder on the pilot frame thereof,said cylinder having a port therein, means for connecting the port withthe air line of the train, a valve for controlling the port, a piston inthe cylinder normally covering the port, a piston rod connected with thepiston and passing through the forward end of the cylinder, a stemconnected with the valve, means for connecting the stem with the pistonrod, a switch member connected with the piston rod, a circuit includinga signal in the cab, terminals for the circuit bridged by the switchmember when the piston rod moves forwardly, a cable connected with thepiston rod, a drum rotatably supported on the pilot frame and aroundwhich the cable is wound, a rod, means for loosely connecting the upperend of the rod with the cable, means for connecting the rod with a partof the axle of the pilot wheels, a whistle connected with the rear endof the cylinder, the cable moving the piston, the valve and the switchmember forwardly when the pilot wheels leave the track to drain the airline and apply the brakes and sound the whistle by the air from thetrain line and enclosing the circuit of the signal in the cab, and ahand operated valve for closing the air line after it has been drainedby the opening of the port.

6. In combination with a train, a cylinder on the pilot frame thereof,said cylinder having a port therein, means for connecting the port withthe air line of the train, a valve for controlling the port, a piston inthe cylinder normally covering the port, a piston rod connected with thepiston and passing through the forward end of the cylinder, a stemconnected with the valve, means for connecting the stem with the pistonrod, a switch member connected with the piston rod, a circuit includinga signal in the cab, terminals for the circuit bridged by the switchmember when the piston rod moves forwardly, a cable connected with thepiston rod, a drum rotatably supported on the pilot frame and aroundwhich the cable is wound, a rod, means for loosely connecting the upperend of the rod with the cable, means for connecting the rod with a partof the aXle of the pilot wheels, a whistle connected with the rear endof the cylinder, the cable moving the piston, the valve and the switchmember forwardly when the pilot wheels leave the track to drain the airline and apply the brakes and sound the whistle by the air from thetrain line and enclosing the circuit of the signal in the cab, a handoperated valve for closing the air line after it has been drained by theopening of the port, a branch connecting the air line with the forwardend of the cylinder and a relief valve connected with the forward end ofthe cylinder.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

CASPER E. BLANKENSHIP.

